5 Things I Love And Hate About My VW Up! GTI

This week on Buckle Up, Rob talks us through what he likes and dislikes about his VW Up! GTI.
Having owned the car for two years now, Rob feels he knows it well enough to point out the best and worst qualities to other owners and potential buyers.
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[@TheHawk-he5cc]

i also own a up! gti.. and i love it!!! mine has a induction kit on it.. ( like a k&n filter) and mine is also chiped to 140hp..!!! it is a super fun car, to drive... but one thing you said is right is, that i also think is should have had led lights, like a modern car... and i willy wish there was som aftermarked ledheadlights you could buy... :)

[@BuckleUpShow]

Thanks for watching The Hawk! (Great name by the way). Yes its a real shame about the lights and plus with the new MOT rules even if someone makes an aftermarket LED option it will now be illegal to use it in the UK which is just stupid

[@TheHawk-he5cc]

@@BuckleUpShow wow i didn't know, you had that ruel in UK, I accualy dont know if we have the same ruel in denmark.... but I think we have!!!.... we have a lot of ruels!!😉😂😂😂...

[@rubn12345]

Does the front passenger seat fold all the way down flat? I have a 5 door, and it only folds to around a 45 degree angle. (asking since im thinking turning it into a microcamper)

[@BuckleUpShow]

Hi Ruben, when you fold the seat forward, it only goes to a 45 degree angle as you say. However if you recline it backwards it goes all the way until it hits the back seats. Hope this helps!

[@Unicorns]

Glad its a 3 door as its more sporty looking

[@BuckleUpShow]

Agreed! Thanks for watching!

[@paulwilson7234]

Good video, could I ask you a few questions. Has your car ever broke down, have you ever had to replace parts apart from service items. Ever had any trouble with the rear breaks binding? Or anything falling off. I think that they're pretty reliable.

[@BuckleUpShow]

Thanks for watching! The only thing that truly irritates me is the rear brakes binding...it happens all the time. Never had any other issues though 🤞

[@VEDRANR93]

There's no better little car than an up gti for that money I drive one of 2018 and Every day I prefer it because the speeder is crazy my dad 6 gti golf train and says the up rides better than There's no better little car than an up gti for that money I drive one of 2018 and every day I prefer it because the speeder is crazy my dad 6 gti golf train and says up rides better than golf 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@VEDRANR93]

And I've got 129,000 miles and no problems 😂😂😂

[@VEDRANR93]

No miles km

[@VEDRANR93]

​@@BuckleUpShow😂😂😂😂 A car that fits only with front discs from 170 to 100 or 50 without strain does not need discs behind

[@McCrazyFish]

Good video, I just wish the section on the Drum Brakes had been more in depth

[@BuckleUpShow]

Oh youuuu! 🤣

[@69bock69]

Drum brakes are best for handbrake turns. ... get those drifts in!!!

[@BuckleUpShow]

You’re the first person to point out an actual reason drum brakes are better so congratulations! There’s no prize, but well done!

[@zombeloffical]

Tell me why and ill believe you 😂

[@gingernutpreacher]

@@BuckleUpShow drum brakes are ok just not vw ones they always stick

[@xDeverdics]

Can you connect through Bluetooth and play music off spotify as normal?

[@BuckleUpShow]

Yes, the car has normal Bluetooth

[@mangaben]

We've also had ours for 2 and a half years and like you we also have a Classic Mini Cooper S. I would agree with all your points, apart from the music. But then again I've been using Spotify off my android. We pretty much went for every factory option, Sound System, front Window Rain Guards, Rear Parking Camera and Sensors (the later I may say has been useful for the Ms) I think when I fully own it, like the Hawk mentioned in his comment, I'm going to get it remapped and and a stage 1 induction and exhaust kit. It's GTI in look but not quite there for power for me. Only other things I'm not so keen on is internal lock button should be illuminated in red at night so you can see it in dark situations. alloy protectors should be standard, and a disable traction control should be an option and automatic side mirror retraction.

[@BuckleUpShow]

Agree with a lot of your points, thanks for watching!

[@harryking344]

Dude, you're so right, I hate drum brakes

[@BuckleUpShow]

Thanks for watching Jeff!

[@69bock69]

Drum brakes are the best for handbrake turns.... so some up side

[@phillipbonalde1859]

Tienes razón, los frenos de tambor pertenecen a los carruajes tirados por caballos

[@BuckleUpShow]

Ellas ciertamente lo hacen!

[@s.neuhaus1512]

Except that the callipers are red, you forget to mention they are bigger than the standard Up. Therefore the GTI doesn’t fit 14” wheels but starts at 15” wheels.

[@BuckleUpShow]

Hi there, thanks for watching! Sorry for not mentioning the brakes were bigger than the standard car, I thought this would have been obvious given the sporting nature of the GTI. The standard cars wheels start from 15” at the smallest and you cannot choose the GTI’s wheels size, it’s 17” as standard, so have to assume you are talking about aftermarket wheels rather than from the factory.

[@s.neuhaus1512]

@@BuckleUpShow in Germany and The Netherlands Theo start Sith 14” steelies. ;-) We had a Citigo (Škoda) a couple of years ago, it had 14” alloy rims.

[@stephenroberts5754]

It's a maintenance issue. When all cars had rear drums, we used to have them off every year and clean out the dust, check for leaky wheel cylinders etc. with the minority of cars, (but still most city cars), having drums, everyone forgets about it, to the point where most manufacturers have taken it out of their service schedule, so unless you are aware that it should be done, it doesn't get done. First good spring day, I'll be removing mine and cleaning them out.

[@BuckleUpShow]

Hi Stephen, thanks for watching! My point is more that if the car came with rear discs instead of drums, you wouldn’t have the inconvenience that you describe above. I worked at Volkswagen for three years and I’m very aware of the maintenance carried out on my car (including having the drums cleaned every time it gets a service). I hope this clarifies why I included it in my dislikes/things to improve section.

[@stephenroberts5754]

@@BuckleUpShow Then You must have asked for them to be cleaned out & paid extra, as we're on our 5th Up since 2014 (2 x 75bhp High Up's, 2 x Tsi's (wife still has one), and my Gti). They have all been serviced at one of three local VW Dealers, and none have had the drums off and cleaned out. They all told me that it's not in the service schedule at Ist, 2nd, or third service.......

[@BuckleUpShow]

The bonus of working there means I now get little extras free of charge and services at mates rates.

[@stephenroberts5754]

@@BuckleUpShow There you go then, but that's not "normal". It doesn't need rear discs from a braking point of view, and doubtless it would have been more expensive if it had them, so I don't mind a). that it doesn't have them, and b). I don't mind cleaning the drums out to bring it back to good working condition. Though I still believe the cleaning operation should be in the service & maintenance schedule.

[@BuckleUpShow]

I only ask for those things because I know it’s an issue. Leaving my Up! GTI or my brothers Up! Beats for more than a week when it’s been raining means the handbrake sticks to the drums. You then have to spend five minutes unsticking them, which I think is an annoyance, but maybe you enjoy getting your hands dirty. Basically it makes the car more difficult to live with than it otherwise would be with disc brakes. I also think that the VW group will have plenty of spare disc brakes around the place that yes, may increase the price marginally, but really I would rather pay more than have the inconvenience 🤷‍♂️

[@cliffhanger1979]

How tall are u?

[@BuckleUpShow]

6'2" or 188cm, whichever takes your fancy

[@cliffhanger1979]

I’m 6ft4 and have problems in small cars especially when they don’t have reach adjustment...

[@BuckleUpShow]

It's a compounded problem in my experience you are already further from the wheel so your legs are right for the pedals and then often you also have to tilt the backrest back to get more headroom taking your shoulders ever further from the steering wheel

[@peterlewis3540]

Let's not forget, the original and iconic 1976 Mk1 Golf Gti, had drum brakes on the rear, so this Up is staying true to the original, AND BEST

[@BuckleUpShow]

It also had a 4 speed gearbox and no crumple zones

[@Steve-gc5nt]

So that Up's Yours?

[@BuckleUpShow]

It used to be

[@TherymasterWidnes]

How big is a pint of milk ?

[@BuckleUpShow]

About the same size as a pint of water

[@TherymasterWidnes]

@@BuckleUpShow 🔔 🔚

[@BuckleUpShow]

Just over half a litre

[@gingernutpreacher]

The reason the steering wheel is far away is to get better crash tests

[@BuckleUpShow]

I think it’s more to do with cost saving as other small cars do offer it *cough* Hyundai i10 *cough*

[@gingernutpreacher]

@@BuckleUpShow no to make the stearing colom longer cost penny's ( not on about telescopic) ever noticed women never complain it's not close enough only men

[@BuckleUpShow]

Ah yes, because famously women never grow over 5ft 5”

[@gingernutpreacher]

@@BuckleUpShow no because they have there face's planted in the stearing wheel my old driveing instructior said he had to tell several women that if the air bag we're to go off it would hi them not the other way round

[@priscillaagyemangduah9799]

Those it have an AC

[@BuckleUpShow]

If you’re referring to air conditioning, then yes the up! GTI comes with AC as standard. My car has the optional climate control though.

[@ant7827]

I know it is an homage to the old Golf GTI, but the fabric of the seats looks awful.

[@BuckleUpShow]

I’m afraid I will have to respectfully disagree. I love the tartan seats. You get it on all GTI products.

[@Cyberdyne-kg8ku]

Car reviewer bingo. 5 points if he uses the word 'aggressive'.

[@BuckleUpShow]

Don't forget other classics like "German engineering", "a nice place to be" and "gear shift like a rifle bolt"

[@petrolboy1906]

Just drove a Panda 100HP, and gives the feeling, the Up GTi is completely missing. I'm trying to avoid 3- and 2-cilindre engines.....they just sound silly :) The Up GTi will never be a proper GTi....they should have used the 1.4 TFSi engine! And no drum brakes....

[@BuckleUpShow]

I think the up! is right up there with the best warm hatches, and it’s certainly very welcome in today’s world where we’re deprived of them. A four cylinder engine is just not possible in the up! as there isn’t enough room. I happen to like the sound of the three cylinder engines and think it’s reminiscent of the Porsche flat six. The drum brakes I agree with you on but I understand it from a cost perspective.

[@benkelly1526]

Had one of these for a few hours, not a massive fan at all,

[@BuckleUpShow]

We could agree with you, but then we'd both be wrong

[@graemeadamson7272]

Stop raining ya fanny FFS

[@BuckleUpShow]

Sorry could you repeat that, preferably in English this time?